The Skolney Blog

2002: Catch Me If You Can is directed by Steven Spielberg, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. If you put those 3 names onto any project in 2002 (or probably 2022) you're thinking this must be some highly ambitious Oscar bait picture. Instead they teamed up for a light, breezy cat and mouse caper film that won no major awards but was one of the funnest movies of that year.  CMIYC is a con man movie. DiCaprio plays that conman, Frank Abagnale, who was a real guy and who pulled off a ton of scams while also committing a whole lot of fraud. The film is also a good guy chasing the bad guy film, as Hanks plays the lead FBI agent trying to catch Frank. And it is also a caper film, as Spielberg takes great playful fun in showing the various schemes Frank cooked up.  This is such a fun, entertaining movie. I had forgotten just how much, since I hadn't watched it for years. This was pretty much the last shot of boyish, pre-Scorsese DiCaprio and he is just pure movie star...

In theaters: VIOLENT NIGHT Santa beating up a collection of criminals in violent fashion. This would seem to be a good setup for an alternative Christmas movie, but the movie never grows beyond its one joke. I did really enjoy the sequence that homages Home Alone in much more realistically brutal fashion, and David Harbour is well cast as Santa, but no I don't see this becoming a standard.  THE FABELMANS Steven Spielberg's very autobiographical film about his childhood and becoming obsessed with making movies. It's not quite the home run I might have expected, and it's definitely too long (could have cut down on some of the high school drama), but it is a fairly worthy Oscar favorite. The performances are quite good. I was especially surprised by how good Paul Dano was. There is lots of good material showing the young Spielberg stand-in's burgeoning love of filmmaking.  EMPIRE OF LIGHT Sam Mendes's first film since the brilliant 1917 is vastly different. This is...

Thursday: [Jaguars 19, Jets 3] Yep, this is happening. The Jaguars are going to make it to the playoffs. The Jets...aren't. They have imploded.  Saturday: [Bills 35, Bears 13] Buffalo easily dismantled the Bears in cold Chicago to hold on to the #1 seed. The only #1 the Bears are going for is the #1 pick.  [Panthers 37, Lions 23] Considering the unearned cockiness from Lions fans and the annoying hype the media was giving them (while sitting on the Vikings all season) I quite enjoyed seeing Detroit get absolutely smoked. They gave up like 250 yards rushing in the first half. The Lions aren't finished but it will need to win out. Carolina actually has a chance still in the south, but we know the NFL won't allow Sam Darnold into the postseason over Brady.  [Chiefs 24, Seahawks 10] Workmanlike Chiefs performance as they keep pace with Buffalo and stay ahead of the Bengals. Seattle's playoff hopes take another big hit.  [Bengals 22, Patriots 18] Cincy got up ...

VIKINGS 27 GIANTS 24 In their final home game of the regular season and of the calendar year, the Vikings gave us another dose of what 2022 has offered at a record level. Another close game. Another last second finish. And another win. In came the Giants, sitting in the #6 seed and potentially in a playoff clinching scenario. The Vikings on the other hand were coming off an NFL record comeback win that clinched the division. So there could be a disparity of drive, with New York the far more desperate team. Neither team had the early advantage. It was actually just a punt-off for the first 4 drives. Was nice to see Ed Donatell bringing blitzes early to rattle Daniel Jones though. Vikings offense was the first to break through. First they got some statistical business out of the way. Kirk hit JJ for a gain that officially broke Randy Moss's team single season receiving yardage record. (Later Dalvin Cook would pass Chuck Foreman for 3rd place on the all time team rushing list) Very su...

Hey, it's really here. James Cameron finally got around to finishing and releasing what is supposed to be the first of several sequels to Avatar, his massive hit from 2009 that became the biggest global hit of all time and was responsible for all those 3D movies we were flooded with in the early 2010s.  It's so trendy to hate on Avatar. People hate on its simple story and simple characters. I've always loved it. It was my #1 movie of 2009. Not sure if it still holds that spot, but it's up there. It's an excellent film. Its simplicity I take as an asset, not a weakness. It's not a flawless film but it's beautifully realized. It's hard to explain how incredible it was to see the visuals for the first time, with its peerless 3D. I went and saw its re-release this fall, also in 3D, and it really holds up. Leading up to this sequel all I kept seeing was how nobody cares about this movie and that it will flop. How stupid do you have to be at this point to stil...

1997 was the year of Scream for me.  I was actually a little late on the original Scream (which I probably should have done a special post on too). I didn't see it until a few months after it came out, when it got re-released. To say I was instantly hooked was an understatement. I literally went back the next day to see it again. Then saw it again a week or two later. And watched it countless times after I taped it off pay per view. But I don't want to make this all about Scream 1. We are here to commemorate Scream 2.  I'm not sure exactly when I knew a sequel was officially coming, but it became an obsession. The turnaround on this thing was really quick. Scream 2 hit theaters just under a year after the original, and they were filming it that summer.  So much of my favorite pop culture stuff in the back half.of the 90s stems from these films. When I saw a big list of who was cast in this sequel (originally to be called The Sequel To Scream) I was hyped about...

Thursday: [49ers 21, Seahawks 13] The 49ers win rather convincingly even on a short week and facing a desperate division rival. It's pretty clear that the Vikings will have to win out to keep the 2 seed.  Saturday: [Browns 13, Ravens 3] Watched none of this game, but wasn't shocked by the result. The Ravens have barely been squeaking by without Lamar Jackson and desperately need him back to hold on to their playoff spot.  [Bills 32, Dolphins 29] Was promised a glorious snow game, but the snow didn't arrive until late. Still, a good game, with the Dolphins putting up a fight but ultimately succumbing. Buffalo now firmly controls their division and remain the #1 seed.  Sunday: [Eagles 25, Bears 20] The Bears tried to play spoiler but couldn't get it done, despite another long TD run by Fields. The big story out of this is that Jalen Hurts got hurt, although it doesn't appear to be a long term thing.  [Lions 20, Jets 17] The Lions are 100% making the playof...

VIKINGS 39 COLTS 36 OT All season long the 2022 Minnesota Vikings have been over and over showing themselves to be masters of the comeback. They made 4th quarter comebacks in wins over the Saints, Bears and Patriots. They made 10 point 4th quarter comebacks to beat the Lions and Commanders. And they of course made a thrilling 17 point comeback in Buffalo in the game of the year.  Well, game of the year for barely a month. Because on Saturday afternoon these messy, miraculous Vikings found a way to top themselves. In fact, they found a way to top everybody. They set a new NFL record for the largest comeback win EVER, turning an apocalyptic 33-0 halftime deficit into a "can this be real" 39-36 overtime win. Oh, and the win clinched their first NFC North title in 5 years!  Of course, the first step to making a big comeback is getting in a big hole and boy oh boy did the Vikings accomplish that in the first half. Short of the US Bank Stadium roof collapsing I don't know what ...

As surprising as the news was back in March that the Twins had signed Carlos Correa, the news that Correa has now signed with the Giants was not surprising at all.  It's possible that there was intrigue over what team he.would go to, but the reality is there was never a doubt that Correa would be here just the 1 season.  The Twins botched it at every step. One, they failed to take advantage of having him for the 1 season, blowing the division race and then plummeting to a sub-.500 3rd place finish.  Two, they failed to see the forest for the trees, and do the smart thing, and trade Correa at the deadline. It was quite obvious they were not winning a title, and they failed to flip a huge asset for future use.  And finally, they failed to convince him to stay. Now, on this point there never was a chance. Correa said all the nice things during the season, but unless the Twins hugely overpaid for him he was never staying.  Now, it may seem absurd to see a 13 year, $...

Thursday: [Rams 17, Raiders 16] Just when it looked like the Raiders were salvaging something from their season they implode and blow a late 2 score lead and give up a 98 yard gw drive by Baker Mayfield, who had only been a Ram for 2 days.  Sunday: [Eagles 48, Giants 22] No doubt, the Eagles (who have all but clinched the #1 seed) are looking like far and away the NFC's best team. And the Giants are falling fast.  [Bills 20, Jets 12] Another pretty ugly game between these two teams, but this time the Bills ground out the win. [Cowboys 27, Texans 23] Almost the upset of the year, and if the 1 win Texans hadn't botched a goal to go chance late they might have won in Dallas.  [Ravens 16, Steelers 14] The Ravens just keep staying afloat, this time eeking out a win without Lamar and over an improving Steelers team.  [Bengals 23, Browns 10] Pretty easy win for the Bengals over the Browns, who have received no bump so far from Watson.  [Jaguars 36, Titans 2...

LIONS 34 VIKINGS 23 The Vikings had a chance to clinch the NFC North title on Sunday in Detroit. Justin Jefferson set a Vikings franchise record with 223 receiving yards, and Kirk Cousins went 31 of 41 with 425 yards, 2 touchdowns and zero picks. And yet, despite these stellar performances the Vikings flew home the loser, and have to wait another week to sew up the north.  Why? Because their now last ranked defense didn't give them a chance. And this half of the football team is now a crisis situation that threatens to destroy the entire team's chances in the playoffs. I felt going in that this was probably the toughest game left on the schedule. And it only got tougher when the Vikings deactivated Christian Darrisaw, Garrett Bradbury and Harrison Smith. Plus, the Lions have been improving lately and are basically in a win out or die situation, so they were certain to be the more desperate team. And division road games are always tough. The Vikings spent the first half causing ...

Thursday: [Bills 24, Patriots 10] The Bills win their 3rd straight amidst a wacky schedule. Naturally Mac Jones looks like crap again facing a real pass defense.  Sunday: [Lions 40, Jaguars 14] Well thanks for nothing, Jags. Detroit blew them out the whole way. Next week will be very tough for the Vikings.  [Packers 28, Bears 19] So, I guess that since Green Bay won Aaron Rodgers didn't need to fake any injuries this week? This game meant nothing, although the Bears were officially eliminated.  [Eagles 35, Titans 10] A total mismatch in this battle of first place teams. The Titans are slipping fast, but they have already damn near clinched their division. The Eagles stay comfortably up in the race for the 1 seed.  [Giants 20, Commanders 20 OT] Well, this certainly simplifies playoff tiebreakers. I suppose since Washington had to comeback to get it to OT they get to feel slightly better about it.  [Steelers 19, Falcons 16] Another.solid game by the St...

VIKINGS 27 JETS 22 Oh the Vikings tricked us on Sunday. With less than a minute to go in the first half, the Vikings held a 20-3 lead. They had played arguably their best half of football all season, and with a 3 score lead over a good, but offensively challenged team, it looked like this was finally that day the 2022 Vikings would cruise to an easy win.  But there we were, in the waning seconds, watching Mike White throw a 4th down pass towards the endzone that could have won the game for the Jets and completed their comeback. I was hoping this would be not just a victorious Sunday but a division clinching Sunday. We needed a win and a Lions loss to clinch the north. We got off to a good start, with Harrison Smith picking off a tipped ball on the Jets opening drive. We went 3 and out, but were already in field.goal range. And hey, Greg Joseph actually made the 50+ yarder! The Jets answered with a field goal too. Our offense was very slow to start. Kirk started 0-5. He was genuinel...